Does Ultima Online still have lots of players?

[Bentong]

Greetings!

I played Ultima Online from launch until the Age of Shadows, or as I called it, Age of Sorrows!

I hadn't given the game any thought in years until recently when I discovered a game called Lord of Ultima.

How is Ultima Online doing? Does the game still have an active playerbase? When I quit, I think the game had around 250,000 players. Has the game gotten any better since Age of Shadows?

 

[longshanks]

ill pass on this question. there are quite a few pages in uhall that address this. i'd suggest u do some reading.

if ur from manilla i would say that the japanese servers are quite active. i think from your reading u will find the game has vastly changed since youv'e left.

 

[Babble]

UO still has a few hundred thousand playing though on lots of shards.
Why not open a trial account (no creditcard needed) and check it out?

The game seems sort of the same since Age of Shadows though lots of players and some developers would disagree. It is all about items and not after 2-3 tries they also manage to program quests.

 

[Gheed]

I know if at least 10.

 

[Evlar]

Seriously, I think you'll prefer playing on one of the free servers until/if EA-Mythic launches classic shards.

As for numbers, I would guestimate less than 100k players and most of them in Asia. Those of us who are after a "classic" option are often accused of wearing rose-tinted nostalgia glasses, which is fine, but there's many more who are wearing great big horse blinkers when it comes to actually how well the game is doing now.

By all means, seriously, do try the trial accound, but if you left because of Age of Shadows (Sorrows ), then I don't think you'll be around more than a few hours, once you've had a look around...

 

[Yen Sid]

UO still has a few hundred thousand playing though on lots of shards.

Where are you getting this number? I know you can't really think that there are that many people playing. Maybe a few thousand .

 

[canary]

UO still has a few hundred thousand playing though on lots of shards.
Why not open a trial account (no creditcard needed) and check it out?

The game seems sort of the same since Age of Shadows though lots of players and some developers would disagree. It is all about items and not after 2-3 tries they also manage to program quests.

Wrong. It is rumored to have from 70,000 to 120,000 open accounts (I myself would guess more to the lower number). Not a 'few hundred thousand'.

Keep in mind MANY players utilize multiple accounts (I know quite a few who have 7-10 accounts). So the actual number of PEOPLE is even far fewer.

 

[canary]

I guess I should also state that UO should thank its lucky stars that they have player housing in game. Many people keep accounts open solely for that. I hope whomever thought of having such a thing gets a nice bonus every year, LOL.

 

[Evlar]

Thus every time one of those multiple account subscribers quits, the impact is actually much greater than an individual with just the one account quitting, financially speaking of course...

It's actually the individual players themselves that are most important to the game though, forget $$$ figures for a second. After all, what are all the multi-account players going to do when all the other players around them leave? Walk disconsolately around their spiffy looking "town" of homes they are now able to place together, that previously wasn't possible. I wonder...

Will they line up multiple computers on a desk and play with themselves? Shouldn't do that though... they say playing with yourself turns you blind

 

[Serafi]

Has the game gotten any better since Age of Shadows?

It depends who you ask I certainly think so, but the only one that can answer that question for you is ...you.

 

[StifledArgument]

Seriously, I think you'll prefer playing on one of the free servers until/if EA-Mythic launches classic shards.

As for numbers, I would guestimate less than 100k players and most of them in Asia. Those of us who are after a "classic" option are often accused of wearing rose-tinted nostalgia glasses, which is fine, but there's many more who are wearing great big horse blinkers when it comes to actually how well the game is doing now.

By all means, seriously, do try the trial accound, but if you left because of Age of Shadows (Sorrows ), then I don't think you'll be around more than a few hours, once you've had a look around...

Please, keep your classic shard rabble to your own threads, don't invade every thread you can to try to prove how valuable it would be.

I would never play a classic shard, I left UO because of griefers who thought it was awesome to grief people, not because the game was so much fun I went into a awe inspired coma.

I was on your side before as I have been with requests from PVP to this Classic shard festival , but this is too invading threads promoting non-sanctioned UO is too much...you need a wake up call, and if it means UO closes because you don't get your precious life altering, oh thank goodness my life is complete shard, SO BE IT. Just stop whining, you will have an answer before the end of the year.

To the OP. I have played on and off since 1997. I love the game even more than I did back in the day. It is fun, there are tons of things to do. Not a ton of people, but worth coming back to. Just don't be surprised if you suffer from info overload for awhile.

 

[canary]

It's actually the individual players themselves that are most important to the game though, forget $$$ figures for a second. After all, what are all the multi-account players going to do when all the other players around them leave? Walk disconsolately around their spiffy looking "town" of homes they are now able to place together, that previously wasn't possible. I wonder...

Well, actually, on the GL shard we have one 'player run' city that pretty much had all of its players leave GL or UO entirely, and now the 7-9 open areas/ plots are basically owned by two people utilizing multiple accounts... so yes, that is kind of what happens.

Hey, as long as those people are happy with what they pay for, whatever. I'm not going to fault someone for wanting a town of their own.

 

[canary]

To the OP, just try it for a month. I'd suggest a more populated shard, though, if you want a player interactive experience.

 

[canary]

Please, keep your classic shard rabble to your own threads, don't invade every thread you can to try to prove how valuable it would be.

You know, last time I checked this was an open forum to discuss opinions. His certainly are no valid than your own.

 

[GarthGrey]

It has a lot of scripters, that sort of Play, so yeah, I guess you could say it has a lot of players...

 

[Prime.]

Ultima Online is still going strong! Just most of the playerbase is scattered between the 200+ non EA/Mythic shards.

 

[GarthGrey]

Seriously, I think you'll prefer playing on one of the free servers until/if EA-Mythic launches classic shards.

First you post a vulgar link that clearly broke the RoC, now you're going to advertise Free shards that completely stomp on the ToS, and you're still allowed to post. Amazing, maybe I'll get banned for this comment, at least it'll be SOME justice...misdirected or not.

 

[StifledArgument]

Amen Garth. Would either of us be surprised if they banned us for bringing up the baloney this pro-non EA server guy is spewing? Not so much.

 

[StifledArgument]

You know, last time I checked this was an open forum to discuss opinions. His certainly are no valid than your own.

Really? is it open to break the TOS and promote things like illegal servers? Is it? Well crap, I guess I missed that memo. Oh and BTW, trollinvisiting threads with off topic conversations regarding illegal servers not regarding the original post are considered trolling.

 

[canary]

Really? is it open to break the TOS and promote things like illegal servers? Is it? Well crap, I guess I missed that memo. Oh and BTW, trollinvisiting threads with off topic conversations regarding illegal servers not regarding the original post are considered trolling.

Actually you were chastising him initially for discussing classic shards. He is entitled to voice his opinions on them. Please, go read your post... I'll be here waiting.

I'm not going to refute the other statements.

 

[StifledArgument]

Umm, what does a classic shard have to do with his question?

Still waiting, I will be here when you get back.

 

[phantus]

Umm, what does a classic shard have to do with his question?

Still waiting, I will be here when you get back.

Anything that has to do with UO can be drawn into the classic shard debate. Until Cal gave his 2 sentence blessing for the subject the mods would not allow constant classic shard banter. They have replaced the Siege propaganda machine.

To answer the OP; No the game does not have a lot of players. We went through a 4 year stint where there was little to no content because EA decided to move the entire development team, not once but twice. People have been leaving the game to other games where they maintain the content on regular basis. Having said that, UO is still a fun game unless you are a power-gamer.

 

[canary]

Umm, what does a classic shard have to do with his question?

Still waiting, I will be here when you get back.

Uhm, his POINT was that more players might be drawn in if a classic shard comes into fruition.

ie,

'Does UO still have lots of players?'

'No, imo. But there might be an influx if a classic shard is implemented.'

I'm unsure how to spell it out any more elementary for you.

 

[Viper09]

Back to the original topic...create yourself a trial account and take a peek! You'll find more truth to your question doing that than sorting through a bunch of junk/trollings/bashing you'll likely be getting from responses on this board. As you can already tell from how a couple have already turned this thread off-topic, lol.

 

[StifledArgument]

Uhm, his POINT was that more players might be drawn in if a classic shard comes into fruition.

ie,

'Does UO still have lots of players?'

'No, imo. But there might be an influx if a classic shard is implemented.'

I'm unsure how to spell it out any more elementary for you.

Uhm....he didn't ask what can be done to bring in MORE people, did he? No. He didn't ask if a classic shard was available, did he? No.

So stop defending this classic shard trolling. I don't know how to spell it out any more elementary for you, seeing as you are just super intelligent compared to the rest of us.

 

[Jesusislord]

If you enjoy camping boss-monsters spawns for weeks, months on end waiting for one item to drop, this is definitely your game. If you enjoy working all the skills from the comfort of your own home until your character is done, by all means, this is your game.

If you enjoy games with real progression, real difficulty, real skill, balanced gameplay, a subscriber base, with modern anti-cheating systems in place, this is definitely NOT your game.

If you enjoy having fun, and not the feeling that your at work while you're logged in, this is NOT your game.

 

[canary]

So stop defending this classic shard trolling.

I don't really care for a classic shard, tbh. But I DO respect that, oh my god, people might have an opinion that differs from mine and its OK to voice it.

 

[Harlequin]

Having said that, UO is still a fun game unless you are a power-gamer.

True and true! If you are a powergamer, it is even more fun!

Before the Stygian Abyss expansion released several months back, population was down to about half compared to the AOS era. Since SA, we have seen more returning vets and newbies alike.

SA was also released with a new 3D client. But you don't have to use it if you don't like
3D graphics. The classic 2D client is continually being improved in tandem.

Too bad they skimped on advertising and shelve presence, or there'll be even more new/returning players.

However, there has never been any shard closures or even mergers. So it is still going strong admist the multitude of player run shards and tons of new MMOs.

 

[Rakoth]

To be fair, the OP labeled Age of Shadows as the 'Age of Sorrows' (I think it's correct, but your mileage may vary.) With that not-so-subtle view in mind, it seems somewhat apparent to me that the original poster would prefer a classic shard, and not the itemized game that UO has become.

Then again I might be jumping to silly conclusions. What I do know for certain, is the Angus Deluxe from McD's I just ate after not having ate for the whole day was freaking DELICIOUS.

 

[Viper09]

To be fair, the OP labeled Age of Shadows as the 'Age of Sorrows' (I think it's correct, but your mileage may vary.) With that not-so-subtle view in mind, it seems somewhat apparent to me that the original poster would prefer a classic shard, and not the itemized game that UO has become.

Then again I might be jumping to silly conclusions. What I do know for certain, is the Angus Deluxe from McD's I just ate after not having ate for the whole day was freaking DELICIOUS.

Perhaps, but all he did was ask a simple question about the current state of UO. No questions about classic shards, what would draw more players or anything else:

How is Ultima Online doing? Does the game still have an active playerbase? When I quit, I think the game had around 250,000 players. Has the game gotten any better since Age of Shadows?

 

[Rakoth]

Granted, granted, but if you want to go that route of argument, everyone should have responded with, "Yes," "No," or "Try a trial." and said nothing else at all.

Which is a bit of a boring answer to come back to. Given that the OP asked several questions pertinent to the game's population, a bit of side information or opinion surrounding said population's variables probably wouldn't go amiss to his palate.

Again, I might be wrong!

Man I wish I had another Angus Deluxe.

 

[HD2300]

hahaha this Classic shard "astroturfing" is the biggest load of crock ever. It is just the same handful of people spamming, and one of the top 3 spammers made their living off UO and has posted things like 'if you ban all the cheaters, UO will die' multiple times.

Siege is the Classic shard except for AOS properties. Siege players could say lets nerf all AOS properties in PvP, e.g. 45 dci in pvp = 45/5 = 9 dci and they would suddenly have their Unique Selling Point, PvP where items only give a minimal advantage. Whining about AOS properties is a crock anyway, because you had vanquishing items in the Classic era.

 

[Bentong]

Just wanted to take a quick second and thank everyone for the responses. I spent about an hour and a half reading some posts and using google to get up to speed.

I really don't care that the playerbase has shrunk so drastically since I last played.

One thing I did read is that the economy in UO is absolutely annihilated from rampant duping. For me, that's no fun.

If they ever start a classic shard like I was reading about (providing it was pre Age of Sorrows I would most likely come running back.

Thanks again for all the responses!

 

[LordDrago]

What I do know for certain, is the Angus Deluxe from McD's I just ate after not having ate for the whole day was freaking DELICIOUS.

The Angus Deluxe is way overpowered and needs to be be nerfed.

Also, I hate when McD's became an item based fast food joint (2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles,onions, ona a sesame seed bun). I hope the open a classic McD's.

 

[LordDrago]

Oh, and to the OP:

You can pretty much ignore 95% of the posts you have been forced to read through (forced in the sense of looking for an answer to your question, not in to the head meaning).

As I saw a couple of people state, I would recommend starting a trial account and check out different shards. I play on Chessy, and have a lot of fun. i was fortunate upon my return to meet up with a great group of people who, after seeing me playing in the same area as them for a week or so, invited me to join their guild. Very fun group of diverse individuals. i am very happy that I came back.

However, you will have to decide for yourself if UO is right for you.

 

[Viper09]

Granted, granted, but if you want to go that route of argument, everyone should have responded with, "Yes," "No," or "Try a trial." and said nothing else at all.

Which is a bit of a boring answer to come back to. Given that the OP asked several questions pertinent to the game's population, a bit of side information or opinion surrounding said population's variables probably wouldn't go amiss to his palate.

Touche. But it could still be a more detailed than yes or no or try a trial. But it's still better than having this thread run off the rails into another flame/troll-fest about classic shards or whatever

 

[EricVT]

You quit at a good time and can be happy with your memories of a once great game. Playing again in all likelihood won't revive your passion for it. The magic just isn't there anymore.

 

[canary]

You quit at a good time and can be happy with your memories of a once great game. Playing again in all likelihood won't revive your passion for it. The magic just isn't there anymore.

Ehn, the game, like many things in life, is what you make it.

 

[Harlequin]

Just wanted to take a quick second and thank everyone for the responses. I spent about an hour and a half reading some posts and using google to get up to speed.

I really don't care that the playerbase has shrunk so drastically since I last played.

One thing I did read is that the economy in UO is absolutely annihilated from rampant duping. For me, that's no fun.

If they ever start a classic shard like I was reading about (providing it was pre Age of Sorrows I would most likely come running back.

Thanks again for all the responses!

Duping is one of the exploits that's given top priority. As soon as a duping method has been discovered, the devs plug it in record time as soon as they find out what mechanics is being exploited.

They even release fixes for these major exploits without waiting for maintenance cycles.

Granted, sometimes it takes them a week or 2 to find out exactly how the cheaters are doing it.

There have been no known dupes for a long time now.

That being said, inflation isn't just due to duping.

Mobs have been upgraded to drop more gold than during AOS.

Gold farmers running automated bots are part of the problem. This should be fixed soon with the 3rd party program detection that the devs is just finishing.

Another reason for inflation is not enough ways for gold to leave the game world. Insurance, buying from npc shops, vendor fees and community donations can only do so much. The bulk of the gold in the system is mainly being transferred from 1 player to another.

 

[Jandruz]

You quit at a good time and can be happy with your memories of a once great game. Playing again in all likelihood won't revive your passion for it. The magic just isn't there anymore.

I played from around 98 or 99 to just after AOS. I came back early this year, and it has been awesome!

 

[Brytt]

I played from 1998 to 2003 and then came back just within the last 6 months. There's a revitalization happening on Baja that... well... I can't explain, I'm just having a ridiculously good time being a part of.

Just like dating, some people swear their first time was their best. Others, it only gets better with time....

 

[Hannes Erich]

I played from November of 1997 to 2003 (six years!!!), and visited in 2006 and 2008 for several months each time (vacationing from Eve Online). I may not always live here, but when it comes to virtual worlds, I have always considered Britannia my permanent residence. I'm here again, and I love the new client.

Many of the posters in this thread SHOULDN'T EVER seek employment in public relations. Discouraging players from returning/staying--because Mythic isn't able to deliver everything right this moment--is a misguided strategy. The number of must-haves at the top of Mythic's to-do list depends on resources. The amount of resources (including manpower) at Mythic's disposal depends on how well business is going, and community involvement DOES MATTER here.

The community is more likely to see a classic shard, among other cool stuff, if it stops encouraging people to go play elsewhere (duh). Grow up, ditch the bitter routine, and take some responsibility for the community that you're a part of.

 

[Babble]

Pff, we can do the job of the BP guy any day.


And UO has lots of players. Is also the only mmo I know that has at least 2-3 emulators.
Probably shards in any language you want, though never heard of an arabic one yet. There are some Turkey ones though if that is close enough.

 

[Lady Storm]

Evlar might I remind you "free shards" talk is a banable offence and using one is a sure fire way of loosing any account linked to you. You are warned.

As for the game of UO. We have evolved and many players dont sit at banks much anymore, yes the population has cut back. The japaneese / asian shards have a bigger player base.
Atlantic and chessy on main production shards are well followed by many others.

To be fair many shards are looking sort of empty but when an event shows up Beleave you me players,(hehe) they come out of the woodwork.

 

[Evlar]

Seriously, I think you'll prefer playing on one of the free servers until/if EA-Mythic launches classic shards.

First you post a vulgar link that clearly broke the RoC, now you're going to advertise Free shards that completely stomp on the ToS, and you're still allowed to post. Amazing, maybe I'll get banned for this comment, at least it'll be SOME justice...misdirected or not.

Amen Garth. Would either of us be surprised if they banned us for bringing up the baloney this pro-non EA server guy is spewing? Not so much.

I saw the comments...

...then I

Funny how I seemed to get where the OP was coming from though, isn't it...

If they ever start a classic shard like I was reading about (providing it was pre Age of Sorrows I would most likely come running back.

So there you have your answer.

Now, onto the apparent free shard "propaganda" that I'm supposed to have been spouting...

For what it's worth, I've played both and both have their plus and minus points. In relation to the question raised, the suggestion was entirely valid, as simply that... a suggestion. To quote myself...

Seriously, I think you'll prefer playing on one of the free servers until/if EA-Mythic launches classic shards.

By all means, seriously, do try the trial account, but if you left because of Age of Shadows (Sorrows ), then I don't think you'll be around more than a few hours, once you've had a look around...

Did I provide a link to any of the free shards? Nope.

Did I grasp the OP's era preference for UO? Looks that way.

Did I suggest using the trial account? Yes, looks that way too.

Did I respond in observation to what their preferences seemed to be? Clearly so.

If even vague mention of the free servers, without providing names or links to them, is utterly prohibited, fine... report my post and let the moderators look at it, if you've nothing better to do with your time.

Those of us who are after a "classic" option are often accused of wearing rose-tinted nostalgia glasses, which is fine, but there's many more who are wearing great big horse blinkers when it comes to actually how well the game is doing now.

Looks like I was pretty accurate there too.

Thing is though, it's all opinion when all's said and done. If you can't take your blinkers off long enough to stand the sight of the opinions of others... then perhaps you shouldn't be looking at internet forums. God forbid that someone might actually have an opinion that's different to your own.



Go get a coffee, sit back and relax.

Lady Storm - If you find anywhere in my posting history, where I've mentioned the name of, or posted a link to, any free servers, the moderators are free to ban my Stratics account. I know I never have. If discussing something that actually exists in passing conversation is prohibited, then fine, I'm warned, but they might as well lock any talk of the classic shards at the same time, because they're used in discussion reference on many occasions. Remember though that Stratics did allow discussion of official "classic" shards, therefore it's inevitable (so long as it doesn't include links or direct naming), that occasionally free servers will be mentioned in a conversational context. I didn't open this can of worms, but I do participate in the resulting discussion.

GarthGrey - I know the link you are referring to over-stepped the mark. I was poking fun at EA Games and the old "Challenge Everything" game intro. Perhaps the use of an "F" word in that YouTube video was offensive and in breach of RoC. I received a warning for that, which I accepted in good grace.

Posturing on an internet forum in the way you have though, is akin to some of the footballers waving their hands at the referees in the World Cup, to suggest another player should get a booking. Stupid and pointless. If you have an issue, PM me with your grievance or use the "report post" button and let the mods deal with it.

 

[Arcus]

Amen Garth. Would either of us be surprised if they banned us for bringing up the baloney this pro-non EA server guy is spewing? Not so much.

I should have been banned a long time ago.

 

[slaveone]

Just wanted to take a quick second and thank everyone for the responses. I spent about an hour and a half reading some posts and using google to get up to speed.

I really don't care that the playerbase has shrunk so drastically since I last played.

One thing I did read is that the economy in UO is absolutely annihilated from rampant duping. For me, that's no fun.

If they ever start a classic shard like I was reading about (providing it was pre Age of Sorrows I would most likely come running back.

Thanks again for all the responses!

WOW just WOW. This guy actually had me beliving for a second he was an old player looking about info on the games current status. Until i read his second post which i've quoted above. It became VERY VERY clear this is just another account from one of these classic shard whiners I wonder how many accounts this particular whiner has? I find it very amusing that "almost" all posts on how someone would come back to UO if there was a classic shard are like 1-10 post wonders. Are we really to believe that random old players are coming out of the woodworks to uo.stratics.com and just happen to be ready to rant and rave about a classic shard?!?! Gimme a break. Just due to the blatent lying and deciet going on here in reguards to how many players really want a classic shard EA should just come out and say it WILL NEVER HAPPEN!!! Because we all know for one that it won't and for two we all know at least those of us with a little common sense that new users with 1-10 posts coming here chiming in on a classic shard is more than just a little unrealistic....

 

[Babble]

People with common sense would never post on a silly gaming forum squabbling about a decade old game.

 

[Evlar]

Slaveone - you might be surprised to know that Stratics isn't the only place people discuss UO's past, present and future, but it's now considered the only "official" place to do so.

The discission after Cal's comments have reached much further than Stratics, you know?

So entirely don't be surprised if people pop up here to seek more information. This is after all where the developers themselves comments, so it makes sense people will come here to ask questions, does it not?

Is it really so hard to contemplate there might actually be a demand for a classic option?

For what it's worth, I do agree with you though... there does need to be committment one way or the other. Yes or No. That's all. I do dislike carrot dangling.

 

[slaveone]

Slaveone - you might be surprised to know that Stratics isn't the only place people discuss UO's past, present and future, but it's now considered the only "official" place to do so.

The discission after Cal's comments have reached much further than Stratics, you know?

So entirely don't be surprised if people pop up here to seek more information. This is after all where the developers themselves comments, so it makes sense people will come here to ask questions, does it not?

Is it really so hard to contemplate there might actually be a demand for a classic option?

For what it's worth, I do agree with you though... there does need to be committment one way or the other. Yes or No. That's all. I do dislike carrot dangling.

Oh trust me bro i'm not surprised at all. Because the same kiddy 14 year old mentality people who want the classic shard to get their grief fest on use the same kiddy 14 year old grief tactics here on stratics to try to ram their opinions down everyone elses throat. The thing is we don't have to accept this fabrication of the truth from classic shard whiners with 15-20 stratics accounts with 1-10 posts each at face value and we WON'T! I'm just calling BS when i see it.

PS- How many stratics accounts do you have?